My Town

Locals in the Pros: Toilolo following a legend with Falcons

By Greg Frazier

Daily News Sports Editor

Posted:
08/04/2014 06:30:20 PM PDT

Updated:
08/04/2014 11:55:49 PM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, file photo, Atlanta Falcons tight end Levine Toilolo (80) moves the ball against New York Jets cornerback Kyle Wilson (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, in Atlanta. This football season, Toilolo has the difficult assignment of replacing Hall of Fame-bound tight end Tony Gonzalez. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

At 6 feet 8 and 265 pounds, Levine Toilolo should be able to fill some big shoes.

He will have his chance this season with the Atlanta Falcons as the former Stanford tight end steps in for retired superstar Tony Gonzalez, who hauled in 83 passes for 859 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns a year ago. As a rookie reserve, Toilolo had 11 catches for 55 yards. Two of his receptions went for scores.

Toilolo recongizes there is pressure when you follow a certain future Hall of Famer.

"I think at the back of your mind you know it's there, but at the same time everybody is doing a great job of picking up the slack," Toilolo told The Associated Press. "They're not really placing it on one person. You can't really do that with a guy like Tony and the career he's had and the production he's had."

Toilolo's two touchdowns last season came in a way Stanford fans are familiar with: He used his height to go above defenders in the red zone. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said he expects more of that kind of work from Toilolo close to the goal line. "We've started to install some of our red zone stuff, and I think that's an area where he can be successful," Ryan told The Associated Press. "He's a big guy with long arms. I think we can use him in a matchup. I think he's improved strength-wise a lot in the offseason. I've been watching him block a little bit and play the position and he's improved from last year. I think he's handled things the right way."

Advertisement

Former Stanford soccer goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart (Stanford) leads the National Women's Soccer League in shutouts with eight for FC Kansas City. Barnhart, a volunteer assistant coach for the Cardinal this season, also leads the pro league in minutes (1,890) and is second in wins (10) and third in saves (70).

Business Insider magazine named the 25 most famous Harvard graduates and put Jeremy Lin, the Los Angeles Lakers point guard from Palo Alto, at No. 11. The school has produced eight U.S. presidents, including the past two. President Barack Obama topped the list. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg of Palo Alto also made the list.

Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez told Russian TV network RBC that he is "fully cleared for play." The former Stanford star, who is touring Russia with brother Robin on an NBA-sponsored trip, fractured a foot Dec. 20. After not missing a game his first three years in the league, Lopez has missed an average of 45 the past three seasons.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hit 11 of 14 pass attempts in a combined practice with the Washington Redskins on Monday. His favorite target from a year ago, wide receiver Julian Edelman, appears to still be his favorite. Edelman, who is from Woodside, caught passes on three consecutive downs from Brady, who played at Serra High in San Mateo.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick told the Boston Globe that he's happy the team re-signed Edelman to a $17 million deal in the offseason.

"I'm glad we were able to work things out with Julian," Belichick said. "It's been an on-going process, glad it was resolved, good player who is versatile, does a lot of different things for us, works hard. He's tough, and he's developed all the way through our system. He came in not as a receiver, not as a punt returner, he's developed into being pretty good at both those things, so glad to be able to keep him."

Joc Pederson (Palo Alto High) continues to impress as one of the top prospects in baseball. He made a diving catch in center field Saturday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A team, crashing into the outfield wall. Pederson's 23 home runs rank third in Class AAA. At 22, he is the youngest player in the Pacific Coast League.

Jerry Rice Jr., a former standout at Menlo School in Atherton, was placed on injured reserve by the Washington Redskins. He had to first clear waivers. The son of the 49ers legend tore cartilage in a shoulder on Thursday and is expected to have season-ending surgery. He was considerd a long shot to make the team.

Alex Blandino has been promoted to Class A Dayton by the Cincinnati Reds. The former Stanford and St. Francis High standout is hitting .280 and slugging .520 in his first 25 at-bats. He has doubled three times and homered once. He's walked four times and scored seven times. Blandino is playing shortstop after playing mostly third base for Stanford. He was a first-round pick by the Reds in the spring.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Toby Gerhart (Stanford) is day to day with a hip flexor.

Former Stanford fan favorite Shayne Skov, trying to make the 49ers as an undrafted free agent, has been "consistently good" the past week, the Sacramento Bee reports. 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio listed Skov among four players who could fill in for injured starter NaVorro Bowman at an inside linebacker spot.

"It's a good competition," Fangio told BaySportsNet.com. "... Everything is open there. It could end up being two guys playing like it was at the outside backer position last year. ... It's not close to being clear yet which way we'll go or who we'll go with. It's a pretty even competition."